Iaido: Combat Stories – 11

-by Ishita Mondal

–Reading Time – 5 min Approx

When it comes to Japanese martial art forms, we cannot ignore one of its most precious forms, which is it iaido. Those who are familiar with jujutsu and judo are probably well aware of it. It is a popular Japanese martial art form that focuses on drawing swords quickly and preventing sudden attacks. In ancient days, iaido was used as a technique on the battlefield to defend the attacks from opponents.

While practicing, you may start with a wooden sword, but you need to practice with a real sword in time. That’s how it has been practiced for years. However, primarily, blunt-edged blades are used in this game, or sport as you say.

So, it is evident that iaido is a widely popular term among martial art practitioners, especially those fond of drawing and managing swords. You, too, probably are interested to learn more about it.

Considering your interest and many other readers’ quest, we are here with a detailed discussion on this interesting game of martial art.

The Origin- History, and Etymology:

We are talking about an interesting form of Japanese martial arts. Isn’t it obvious that even the etymological history will be interesting? The name ‘iaido’ consists of two segments- ‘iai’ means being constantly prepared while the last segment ‘do’ is translated as the way. The first segment focuses on the psychological condition of the participant. And the second part roughly means how to move the sword.  In short, the whole term means the way of performing immediate action using the mental presence.

Talking about the history of iaido, it was started in the middle of the 1500s. As per the available documents, Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu is considered the organizer of iaido. Since then, many koryu or schools have introduced the martial art form. Some of the schools still practice it today.

After the feudal system in Japan, in 1868, the martial art form was adapted by the modern schools and practiced in many different ways. While performing the sport, the organizations invented different types of ‘kata’ to improve their performance as per their techniques. Thus, a wide range of types for the weapon was developed. Let’s know more about them.

How it is Practiced- The Different Forms of Katas:

The martial art form called iaido comprises four main factors. The practitioners strive to be the best in all of them. The more they practice, their performance goes better. They are-

• Swift drawing the sword
• Attacking the opponent
• Wiping the blood off from the sword (if blunt-edged, the part is skipped)
• Place the sword inside the cover.

Initially, the experts teach with blunt-edged swords to avoid any risk of an accident. Sometimes, wooden swords are used. The blunt-edged sword is called iaito. After being a pro in the game, practitioners may get a chance to practice with a sharp-edged sword. According to the iaido terminology, the sword is called ‘shinken.’ The individuals who practice iaido are called ‘iaidoka.’

Nonetheless, as we mentioned previously, different styles of kata are used by different iaido organizations. We share a brief introduction to them here.

Different Katas from Different Organizations:

Tōhō:

The All-Japan Iaido Federation set up a series of katas named Tōhō that were used in five major schools. The schools were Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū, Mugai-ryū, Suiō-ryū, Shindō Munen-ryū, and Hōki-ryū.

Seitei:

Also known as Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido, is a form of sword drawing technique that was created by the All Japan Kendo Federation. The kata used in this form was first created in 1969 as the All-Japan Kendo Federation, took initiative. Gradually, seitei iaido got its place as a popular form of iaido in Japan and the rest of the world.

The single-style organizations usually do not have a fixed set of kata to be used in the game.

As it has gone through many changes and modifications, iaido is now seen in many different forms. Many organizations practice drawing swords from an initial sitting position. They often call it iaido, although the original form is not the same.

Another widely popular iaido technique is practiced by Toyama-ryū, an iaido school established in 1925, Japan. According to history, it was created by the Japanese army during World War 2. Although it was not in practice after the war, after 1952, the glory was restored.

In Modern Days:

Now, iaido is a game that is often practiced as a competition. Majorly, it is controlled by the All-Japan Kendo Federation. The organization set the standardized kata and regulations for the competitions. Two practitioners perform on stage with their kata attacking and defending against each other. A panel of judges is set to decide the result. However, usually, it is practiced in its solo form.

Also, European Kendo Federation arranges iaido championships nowadays.

Interesting Facts You Should not Miss:

We have discussed the origin, history, and other details of the martial art form. We hope you have got the information you need. Now, it’s time for the extra soup in the bowl. Before we end our discussion, let’s talk about some interesting facts about iaido that you probably do not know.

• Iaido targets achieving beauty and perfection in the sword drawing technique.
• The game cannot be learned by yourself. You need a skilled teacher for it.
• Different iaido organizations are- Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (DNBK), The International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF), All Japan Iaido Federation (ZNIR), International Kendo Federation (FIK), etc.
• It requires a high state of awareness in mind.
• The martial art form blends Confucian ethics, Zen techniques, the philosophies of Taoism, different aspects from bushido(a samurai code), and the rites of Shintoism.

Wrapping it Up:

It was all about iaido. Whether you want to practice solo or take part in a dual, iaido always gives you a sense of amazing pleasure. Moving swords swiftly and defending the opponent’s attack! Such a blissful thought for all martial art practitioners. If you would like to give it a try, you can check out your nearby martial art school for teachers skilled in iaido.

-by Ishita Mondal

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